Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats

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Warning: I am one of THOSE people who talk about, and treat, their dogs like children.

I fell in love with Freddie, the moment I laid eyes on him as a furry little puppy.

It’s been five years since I brought Freddie home and I am not ashamed to admit that he has had me wrapped around his little paw ever since. I am also not ashamed to admit that I care for Freddie as if he is a real little boy trapped inside the furry little body of a Yorkshire terrier.

Freddie as a puppy

Like most children (and small dogs) Freddie is a picky eater, and has a sensitive digestive system, which complicates matters further. In fact, Freddie is such a picky eater that at times he can refuse to eat his dog food for days unless I sprinkle it with a variety of dog treats and other treats such as cheddar cheese, his favorite type of cheese.

Of course, I resist feeding Freddie a steady diet of dog treats because I know that feeding him this way is the equivalent of feeding my kids ice cream and cookies for breakfast. But, I also would never dream of letting him go hungry…Hence my dilemma!

Needless to say, I have spent a great deal of time and energy looking for a way to ensure Freddie receives the nutrition that he needs to stay happy and healthy.

This dog treats recipe is the result of countless discussions with Freddie’s veterinarian and countless hours of experimentation with treats recipes that either didn’t turn out right or Freddie refused to eat.Today, these dog treats are the only treats I feed Freddie because I know they are highly nutritious, preservative-free and safe. In fact, this dog treats recipe is so nutritious that Freddie’s veterinarian referred to it as a “doggie energy bar recipe” when I shared it with her.

I insisted on developing a recipe for chewy dog treats because as a small dog Freddie has a hard time properly chewing store-bought dog treats because they are too hard. Not chewing properly often causes Freddie to vomit which is never a pleasant experience.

Freddie’s veterinarian suggested that I use pumpkin puree as the base for my homemade dog treats recipe since pumpkin has a tendency to soothe dogs’ upset stomachs.

I included cheese in this recipe because it is Freddie’s favorite snack and I knew that it would help increase the chances of him liking the treats.

Peanut butter is also included because of its dog-approved taste, protein, energy giving properties and many other health benefits.

I included bacon grease because this fat helps maintain the health of a dog’s skin and coat.

Lastly, I used coconut flour, a form of gluten-free flour, because Freddie’s veterinarian warned me about the fact that most dogs are gluten intolerant.

Chewy Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats Recipe

1 15oz can of pumpkin puree

3 tbsp peanut butter

2 eggs

2 tbsp grated cheese. I used grated mazzarella. Feel free to use any cheese you have on hand

2 cups coconut flour or any other gluten free flour you have on hand**

2 tbsp bacon grease***

1/4 tsp of cinnamon****

Chewy Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats Preparation

In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, peanut butter, eggs, cheese, cinnamon and bacon grease

Fold in your flour 1/2 cup at a time

Your dough should have the consistency of flaky, buttery pie dough

Using your hands shape the dog treats into small rectangles about 1/4 inch tall

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

Place dog treats on parchment paper

Preheat oven to 350F

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until your dog treats crack on the surface and their corners begin to brown

Cooked Chewy Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats

Recipe Details:

*This recipe produces around 24-30 individual dog treats.

** Most dogs are gluten intolerant. Therefore, you must use gluten free flour in homemade dog treats recipes.

*** You may also use two tbsp coconut oil in place of bacon grease but most dogs prefer the taste of bacon grease

**** Consuming a small amount of cinnamon is safe for dogs. However, do not use nutmeg as it is highly poisonous to dogs.

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Paulin Soleyman is the founder and editor of The Underground Bootcamp. Her goal is to help everyday people live healthier, happier, more fulfilling lives by sharing all that she knows about healthy living, nutrition, and fitness.

Paulin Soleyman is the founder and editor of The Underground Bootcamp. Her goal is to help everyday people live healthier, happier, more fulfilling lives by sharing all that she knows about healthy living, nutrition, and fitness. Read More…

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